Confection dispensing apparatus

ABSTRACT

A frozen confection dispenser includes a collapsible container for the confection such as ice cream and a piston for selectively collapsing the container to extrude the confection from the container through an outlet to a cone or the like.

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 08/834,198 filed Apr. 15, 1997 and now U.S. Pat. No. 6,105,820,which was a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/431,479filed May 1, 1995 and now U.S. Pat. No. 5,620,115, which was acontinuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/003,578 filed Jan.13, 1993, now abandoned, and which was a divisional of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 07/713,978 filed Jun. 11, 1991 and now U.S. Pat.No. 5,215,222, which was a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser.No. 07/399,536 filed Aug. 10, 1989 and now U.S. Pat. No. 5,069,364.

This invention relates to dispensing apparatus and in particular toapparatus for dispensing frozen material such as ice cream or otherfrozen, semi-frozen or chilled confectionery.

Ice cream is usually dispensed at the point of sale in prepacked form,by scoops out of containers in a refrigerator, or in a flow from afreezing, mixing and dispensing machine.

Prepacked ice cream is relatively expensive to produce and distributebut has the advantage that a wide range of flavors and types of icecream can be sold at a single outlet. The only requirement is arefrigerator to keep the product frozen.

Dispensing ice cream by scoop from a container has the advantage ofcheapness in production and transport but dispensing of the ice cream isslow, especially when the proper hygiene precautions are taken.Scoop-dispensed ice cream also provides the facility for providing arange of ice cream including those containing fruit, nuts and othersolids.

Machines for dispensing so-called “soft” ice cream are known in whichliquid ingredients are loaded into the machine which mixes, freezes anddispenses the ice cream into cones or other containers. Such machineshave previously had high power requirements and are expensive tomanufacture. Different mixing and dispensing equipment is required foreach flavor so it is usual for such machines to have only a one, two or,perhaps, three flavor facility. Moreover, the machines are oftendifficult to maintain and due to the nature of the product which must beused the ice cream does not compare favorably with the quality possiblewith scoop dispensed products.

In U.S. Pat. No. 4,452,823 there is described a dispenser for frozenfood product in which a collapsible container for the product is fittedwith a spout through which the product is extruded directly into areceiving member.

An object of the invention is to provide dispensing apparatus whichovercomes problems and disadvantages of existing systems.

According to the invention dispensing apparatus for dispensing a frozenproduct comprises deformable container means for containing the frozenproduct in semi-solid form to be dispensed, the container means havingoutlet means through which the product is discharged, dispensing meansfor deforming and reducing the internal volume of the container meanswhereby to cause product in the container means to issue from the outletmeans, drive means operable to cause the dispensing means to dischargeincremental quantities of product by progressive deformation of thecontainer means, valve means for controlling the discharge of product bythe dispensing means, a housing for the container means, andrefrigeration means whereby the housing and container means are kept ata low temperature to maintain the product in a frozen condition inoperation.

Preferably the valve means includes a shut-off valve operation of whichallows product to be dispensed and the shut-off valve is interposed induct means through which the product passes from the container means toan outlet, at least part of the duct means being movable in and out ofthe housing between operating and non-operating positions.

Conveniently the container means is located in an upright position inthe apparatus during discharge, the outlet means being at the lower endof the container means.

The drive means may include motor means rotation of which causes theproduct to be dispensed by driving a plunger against the containermeans, and the plunger moves parallel to the axis of the container sothat rotation of the motor effects a dispensing operation by deformingthe container.

Conveniently the motor means is coupled to the plunger by a rotarymember extending parallel to the axis of movement of the plunger anddriven by the motor means, threaded engagement between the rotary memberand the plunger causing said movement of the plunger when the rotarymembers are rotated.

The apparatus may include an upright frame having an intermediateplatform for supporting the container means, above which platform is thecontainer housing and below which is the outlet means. The outlet meansmay also, at least in part, be located in a refrigerated housing.

A movable support may be provided for the container means, the supportbeing mounted on the intermediate platform and movable to a dischargeposition to load and unload the container means in the containerhousing. The invention also provides container means for use with thedispensing apparatus of the invention comprising a generally cylindricalbody with deformable side walls and an outlet at one end, the oppositeend of the body being arranged for engagement by the dispensing means.

The container means may have side walls in the manner of a bellows suchthat one end of the container means is movable towards the other, outletend to effect a reduction in the internal space under the action of thedrive means.

The valve controlling the discharge of product during operation of thedrive means may have a flexibly-walled tube and the valve is operated bypinching together the walls of the tube by control means.

Further features of the invention will appear from the followingdescription of an embodiment of the invention given by way of exampleand with reference to the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a part sectional front elevation,

FIG. 2 is a part sectional side elevation,

FIG. 3 is a general elevation,

FIG. 4 is a side view of a container,

FIG. 5 is a side view of a container outlet,

FIG. 6 is a side elevation showing alternative outlet means,

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing other outlet means, and

FIG. 8 is a general elevation showing a plurality of outlet ducts.

Referring to the drawings dispensing apparatus is shown which includesan upright frame defining three or more compartments or housings. Anupper compartment 10 houses a drive motor 11 and transmission means 12;an intermediate compartment 13 houses a further part of the transmissionmeans and a container 14 for the product to be dispensed; and a lowercompartment 15 houses the discharge means 16 for discharging the productfrom the container 14. A rear part 17 of the apparatus houses acompressor and refrigeration means (not shown) which may be of knownform

Each of the intermediate and lower compartments 13 and 15 are insulatedand refrigerated, at least in part, to retain the product in thecontainer 14 and in the discharge means 16 at the necessary lowtemperature during storage and dispensing.

The drive means for the dispenser as best seen in FIG. 1 includes thedrive motor 11, conveniently a D.C. electric motor, the rotary driveshaft of which drives, through a right angle or bevel gear 20, avertical shaft 21 including a clutch 22 and carrying a drive pulley 23.Below the pulley 23 the shaft 21 is threaded and threadedly engages apressure bar 24. A drive belt 25 passes around the pulley 23 to afurther pulley 26 which is mounted on a further vertical shaft 27 whichis also threaded below the pulley 26 and which threadedly engages theopposite end of the pressure bar 24. At their lower ends the shafts 21and 27 are journalled into a plate 28 which forms a platform part of theframe and divides the intermediate and lower compartments 13 and 15. Theupper ends of the shafts 21 and 27 are journalled into the upper wall ofthe compartment 10.

The pressure bar 24 extends between the shafts 21 and 27 and it will beseen that as the motor 11 rotates and the clutch 22 is energized theshafts 21 and 27 are simultaneously rotated to drive the bar 24 up anddown. The underside of the bar 24 carries a plunger 31 which engages thetop of a container 14 (FIG. 2) to discharge product from the container.The plunger 31 is shaped to engage a recess of the shape shown in dottedlines 33 in FIG. 4. Alternatively the container can be deformed to formthe recess 33.

The container 14 is located in the compartment 13 by a part-cylindricalreceiving means 35 defined by two part-cylindrical plates 36 and 37which are spaced apart along each side to define vertical slots to admitthe pressure bar 24 as the plunger 31 is moved up and down. The plates36 and 37 can, however, be omitted.

The plates 36 and 37 are fixed to a base plate 38 which is hinged at itsfront edge 39 to the frame plate 38. The underside of the base plate 38is supported by the frame plate 28 and part 38A of the plate 38 supportsthe lower end of the container and is of corresponding shape. A centralopening in that part 38A of the base plate is aligned with acorresponding opening 40 in the frame plate 28 to receive an outlet 41of the container. The opening 40 is formed with a Morse non-stick taperand the outlet 41 is formed with a corresponding taper to cause theoutlet 41 to engage as a taper fit in the opening 40. The outermost endof the outlet is formed with a screw-threaded portion 42 whereby a cap(not shown) may be fitted to the container when stored.

The plate 36 is provided with a handle 43 and the arrangement of thereceiving means 35 and plate 38 is such that the container 14 can bereadily loaded and unloaded before and after discharge of the product.This is achieved by raising the plunger 31 to its uppermost position byoperation of the motor 11; opening a door 44 at the front of thecompartment 13 to gain access to the interior; then grasping the handle43 to pivot the plate 38 forwards about the hinge 39. The container 14can then simply be slid into the space defined by the plates 36 and 37with its outlet 41 located in the opening in the base plate portion 38A.The plate 38 is then tilted backwards until it engages with the frameplate 28 whereupon the outlet 41 is made a taper fit in the opening 40.

Below the frame plate 38 and fixed to its underside is a fixed block 45(FIG. 2) with an opening 46 aligned with the opening 40 and partiallytapered to receive the lower end of the container outlet 41.

Below the fixed block 45 is a longitudinally slidable discharge member47, shown in FIG. 2 in a discharge position. In this position a duct 48in the member 47 has its inlet end aligned with the opening 46 in theblock 45. From the inlet end the duct 48 extends generally horizontallyalong the member 47 towards a discharge nozzle 49 directed downwards. Ashut-off valve member 51 is carried on the discharge member 47 formovement up and down under the control of, in this case, amanually-operated operating arm 52. The arm 52 is pivotally supported at53 on the member 47 at one end, the opposite end having a handle 54. Asthe valve member 51 is moved down it passes into the discharge nozzle 49to prevent product passing from the duct 48 into the nozzle 49. Onupward movement of the arm 52 and hence the member 51 the nozzle 49 isopened and the upper end of the member 51 engages a switch arm 55 whichoperates a switch 56 for actuating the motor 11.

The slidable member 47 is keyed to the fixed block 45 and if thedispenser is to remain out of action for a period, the member 47 may bepushed into a position which prevents product from passing from thecontainer 14 into the duct 48. Moreover the product in the duct 48 canbe retained frozen because the member 47 when pushed in can besubstantially wholly located within the lower compartment 15 which iskept in a refrigerated condition.

Instead of the duct 48 extending forwardly for dispensing at the frontside of the apparatus or in addition to a forwardly extending duct, aduct may extend towards the rear of the apparatus for dispensing at thisposition. FIG. 8 illustrates one approach to two ducts 48 and 110connected to a single container.

Moreover the apparatus may be adapted for self service operation. In thelatter case the apparatus, once energized (such as by a coin feed device100, FIG. 3) will automatically dispense a predetermined quantity ofproduct. This may be achieved by replacing the manually operated slidingmember 47 by a powered arrangement and by suitable control of the motor11.

In an alternative arrangement to that illustrated the container outletmay include a portion integral with the container 14, which extendsthrough the opening 40 into a lower chamber and communicates with adeformable tube portion constituting part of a valve for controlling thedischarge of product from the container.

The valve may also include a pneumatically operated piston and cylinderwhose axis lies generally horizontally at a right angle to thedeformable tube portion. The piston rod of the piston and cylindercarries on its free end a member for engaging and deforming the portionto open and close the portion and thereby enable product to pass alongthe portion during dispensing or to prevent discharge of the product bypinching the sides of the tube portion together. An abutment plate liesagainst the tube portion to resist the action of the piston and cylinderduring closure of the valve.

At the free end of the valve, downstream of the deformable tube portion,is located an outlet nozzle portion which is preferably shaped to shapethe product during its discharge to give an attractive appearance.

Normally the product is dispensed into a container (not shown) which maybe a cone or other edible container, or a receptacle such as a carton.

Controls 59 are located on the front wall of the upper compartment 10for controlling the dispensing operation. Normally the controls would beset so that the container 14 is put under constant pressure by the motor11 and the clutch 22 being energized to rotate, thereby tending todeform the container to reduce its internal volume and force the productthrough the outlet. Flow of product is controlled by the valve 51 sothat to dispense the product it is only necessary to open the valve (asshown in FIG. 2) thereby allowing the product to pass along the duct 48of the outlet and hence through the nozzle 49 for the required duration.If desired the operation of the motor 11 and/or clutch 22 may beautomatically timed so that a predetermined amount of product isdischarged over the predetermined time period. Upon de-energization ofthe clutch 22 pressure on the container may be released.

However in cases where product is only to be dispensed infrequently, orfor example during overnight periods, the motor 11 may be de-energizedto release pressure on the container 14.

Upon the container 14 becoming empty the motor 11 is driven to retractthe plunger 31 to its full extent to raise the plunger 31 and the emptycontainer 14 is removed and replaced by a fresh, full container.

The container 14 is shown in more detail in FIG. 4 and comprises agenerally cylindrical body 60 in which is formed a series ofcorrugations 61 extending circumferentially so that the corrugations canbe deformed in the axial direction of the body in the manner of aconcertina or bellows. Alternatively the body 60 can be arranged todeform and reduce its internal volume by folding over the side walls onitself rather than using a bellows arrangement.

At the outlet end of the container the body presents a flat surface 62at right angles to its axis so that the surface may engage the uppersurface of the base plate 38. Internally the lower or outlet end of thecontainer may be profiled to taper towards its lower end and towards theoutlet 41.

At the opposite end of the container the body is formed with therecessed portion 33 to receive the plunger 31.

The container is preferably made of flexible plastics material and maybe formed by blow molding.

During manufacture the outlet 41 is formed integrally of the body.

In dispensing frozen product the container needs to be deformable atrelatively low temperatures of, say, −10° C. to −25° C. The containerwill normally be filled with product at the site of a productmanufacturer and supplied as and when necessary to the apparatus userwho may be a mobile or fixed retail outlet, a restaurant or otherfacility. Product is poured into the container through the openingwhich, in a dispensing operation, is the outlet, and the product is thenfrozen for distribution.

It will be appreciated that several dispensing apparatus each with theirassociated container and individual discharge control means may beprovided in a single cabinet whereby several different products ordifferent product flavors can be dispensed.

If any of the dispensing means should fail or require maintenance areplacement can be easily fitted by forming each dispensing means as amodule.

Moreover the manner of dispensing and the nature of the container issuch that the product can take many forms and can include solids such asfruit, nuts and chocolate.

Part of the apparatus, for example the compartment 13, may be arrangedto provide a refrigerated storage area for filled spare containers.

If desired the dispensing means may be made manually operable to obviatethe need for a power supply, other than for refrigeration, if required.

For mobile apparatus the cooling function for the cabinet may beprovided at a fixed location and effected overnight, the cabinet beingadequately insulated to keep the desired temperature of the product inthe cabinet.

Although it is preferred that the container is cylindrical it will beseen that other shapes are possible. Moreover although the apparatus isillustrated with the container 14 in an upright position the containermay be arranged horizontally or at a vertically inclined position.

As an alternative to the dispensing arrangement of FIG. 2 an arrangementsuch as shown in FIG. 6 may be employed. In the FIG. 6 arrangement thecontainer 14, the drive arrangement and the container outlet 41 may bearranged as for the previous embodiment. But instead of the ductarrangement 48 there is provided below the block or manifold 45 athree-way valve 70, the valve 70 communicating selectively between thecontainer interior and a dosing device 71, and between the dosing device71 and an outlet duct 72. Product is conducted from the valve 70 to apiston and cylinder device 73 through a pipe 74 during a containerdischarge operation.

The piston and cylinder device 73 includes a cylinder 75 in which islocated a piston 76 for defining a compartment for receiving productinto the cylinder from the container 14. Movement of the piston 76 inthe cylinder 75 is achieved by a pneumatically-operated piston andcylinder drive 78. Movement of the drive in a filling direction (to theleft as seen in FIG. 6) allows product to be directed into the cylinder75 against the piston 76.

Operation of the valve 70 to communicate between the cylinder 75 and theoutlet duct 72 enables the cylinder 75 to be discharged by operation ofthe piston and cylinder drive 78. A quantity of product equal to theswept volume of the cylinder 75 is discharged along the pipe 74 throughthe valve 70 and along the duct 72 towards a discharge nozzle 80.

The nozzle outlet 80 is controlled by a valve member 51′ movable up anddown in the nozzle outlet 80 under the action of a furtherpneumatically-operated piston and cylinder device 81.

A piston and cylinder device 82 actuates the valve 70 between saidpositions and the duct 72 is defined by a fixed member 83.

The stroke of the piston 76 in the cylinder 75 can be adjusted to varythe amount of product to be dispensed, if desired. For this purpose apiston 78A of the drive 78 is mounted on a piston rod 78B which rodprotrudes from the cylinder 75 and carries a longitudinally adjustablemember 85. Proximity switches 86 and 87 lie adjacent the path of themember 85 to be operated upon movement of the piston 78A and piston rod78B and to start and stop the drive 78.

It will be seen that this arrangement lends itself to automaticoperation of the dispensing of predetermined amounts of product. Thedispensing of product thus follows a sequence, starting with the valve70 in a position to direct product from the container to the dosingdevice 71, in which the first step is to fill the cylinder 75. Then,when filled, the cylinder 75 is emptied, having moved the valve 70 toits other position, by operation of the drive 78 and opening of thevalve member 51′. The product is discharged through the nozzle outlet80.

When discharge is complete the valve member 51′ is closed and the valve70 is returned to its initial position to refill the cylinder 75 readyfor a commencement of a repeat sequence.

The various drive means and valves may be controlled to follow thesequence automatically to allow coin feed or other dispensing operationby the customer or an operative.

It will be appreciated that the drive motor 11 for deforming thecontainer 14 may be operable at variable speed to vary the rate at whichproduct is discharged from the container.

It is also possible to have two or more outlets for simultaneouslydispensing product at two or more locations from the same container. Forexample there may be outlets on different sides of the apparatus.

A further alternative to the discharge arrangements of FIGS. 2 and 6 isshown in FIG. 7.

In FIG. 7 the apparatus includes the same three compartmentconfiguration and container compression arrangement as describedpreviously but, instead of the discharge arrangements for dischargingthe product from the container outlet 41, described above, the outlet 41discharges directly into a fixed duct 90.

The duct 90 communicates with a flexible length of ducting 91 which, inturn, communicates with a body 92 having an internal duct 93 leading toa downwardly directed outlet 94.

A valve arrangement (not shown) in FIG. 7 of the kind shown in FIG. 2 orFIG. 6 controls the discharge of product along the duct 90, the ducting91 and the duct 93.

The duct arrangement enables the body 92 to be moved backwards andforwards into and out of the lower compartment 15 in the direction ofthe arrow P depending on whether a dormant or operative action of thedispensing apparatus is required. Moreover the provision of the flexibleducting 91 enables the door 44 to be opened and closed withoutdisconnection of any of the discharge arrangements. For this purpose thedoor 44 is hinged at 95 adjacent the flexible ducting. For the movementP and for the door opening movement the flexible ducting is able toaccommodate the relative movement between the body 92 and the fixed duct90.

As seen in FIG. 7 the body 92 is in its discharge position, the dormantor non-dispensing position being shown in chain line 92′.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for dispensing a frozen confection,comprising: a. providing a container, said container having a side walland an end, said end having a dispensing outlet integral therewith, saiddispensing outlet having a cross sectional area less than the crosssectional area of said end, a portion of frozen confection contained insaid container; b. providing a support means to support said container;c. providing a dispensing means operative to apply pressure to saidcontainer; d. disposing said container on said support means so thatsaid container is supported thereby; and e. applying pressure to saidcontainer so as to dispense at least a part of said portion of frozenconfection through said outlet.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein saidsupport means is operative to support said end of said container.
 3. Themethod of claim 1, wherein said support means includes a support memberfor supporting said container.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein saidsupport member has an opening defined therein and when said container isdisposed on said support means, said outlet is aligned with saidopening.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein said container at leastpartially collapses when pressure is applied to said container.
 6. Themethod of claim 5, wherein said dispensing means comprises a piston forcollapsing said container.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein whenpressure is applied to said container, said side wall is collapsed. 8.The method of claim 1, wherein said container further includes aremovable cover for covering said outlet.
 9. The method of claim 8,further comprising removing said cover prior to disposing said containerin said dispensing means.
 10. The method of claim 1, further comprisinga preliminary step of filling said container with frozen confection at aremote location.
 11. The method of claim 10, further comprisingtransporting said filled container from said remote location in a frozenstate.